Pride of Telugu film industry Raja Babu's statue unveiled

Recalling the services of Haasya Nata Chakravarthi" (Comedy King) Raja Babu to the Telugu film industry, noted director Dasari Narayana Rao unveiled the bronze statue of the popular actor at Gautami Ghat in Rajahmundry on Saturday.

Talking to media persons after unveiling the statue, Dasari Narayana Rao described Raja Babu as a great actor and said that the Telugu film industry will always be proud of having him representing the industry.

Dasari said that though Raja Babu followed the footsteps of the great comedian Relangi, the king of comedy of yesteryear films, “Raja Babu had always maintained his own class and distinctive style both in expressions and body language in comic scenes."

The programme was organized by the Movie Artistes Association.

Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju, MPs Undavalli Arunkumar, Harsha Kumar, Minister for information and Public Relations D K Aruna, Minister for Stamps and Registrations Thota Narasimham, MLAs Routu Suryaprakasa Rao, Chandana Ramesh, P Venkatesh, MLC Kandula Durgesh, Mayor Veera Raghavamma, Movie Artistes Association president Muralimohan, Dadasaheb Phalke awardee D Ramanaidu, district Collector Ravi Chandra, Superintendent of Police Srinivas and Urban SP Umapathi attended the programme.

Later on Saturday evening, a programme titled `Raja Babu Hasya Swarnotsavalu’ will be held at Government Arts College Grounds in Rajahmundry at 5:30 in memory of the late comedian.

About 80 Telugu comedians will participate in the programme. Playback singer Mano, writer Vandemataram Srinivas, music director RP Patnaik, Mallikharjun, Khusi Murali, Gopika, Purnima and Vijaya Lakshmi are expected to perform.

Raja Babu has the distinction of winning a record 14 Filmfare awards - 13 of these in succession. He acted in record 589 movies in less than 20 years.